Sammartino is also the regional agriculture chief and a leading member of the League party in Sicily. The measure was imposed in relation to an investigation in which other people are suspected of cutting deals in exchange for votes, bribery, and incitement to bribery.
Carabinieri police on Wednesday executed orders limiting the freedom of 11 people in relation to the case. These include Santi Rando, the mayor of the town of TremestieriEtneo, who was arrested, while his opponent-turned-ally MarioRonsisvalle was put under house arrest. The use of mafia methods is an alleged aggravating factor in the case, police say. The judge also suspended Sammartino from exercising public roles for one year by a judge on Wednesday after being put under investigation for alleged corruption. He is also suspended from exercising his role as Deputy Governor of Sicily for a year.